How do you know if you're on partner track/need to plan to lateral? Forum
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Anonymous User
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How do you know if you're on partner track/need to plan to lateral?
Is it pretty obvious that a given associate is on partner track or will be let go when their weed-out season comes? Does everyone basically assume that they'll be let go anytime soon and start looking for lateral positions from year 1 and never stop, whether or not they're "doing well?"
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attorney589753
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Re: How do you know if you're on partner track/need to plan to lateral?
Probably firm and practice group dependent but at my firm there was pretty clear signals of who is most valued, who is considered "good", who isn't, etc. Probably had a good sense by year 5 of so (a single tier partnership) as to whether that was a realistic option, although nothing is ever guaranteed unless you are a true rock star. I did sometimes get the vibe that people who are average or just above average would stick around because they weren't forced out but didn't really have a great shot. My firm also wasn't the "up or out" type so, again, firm-dependent.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:59 amIs it pretty obvious that a given associate is on partner track or will be let go when their weed-out season comes? Does everyone basically assume that they'll be let go anytime soon and start looking for lateral positions from year 1 and never stop, whether or not they're "doing well?"
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papermateflair
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Re: How do you know if you're on partner track/need to plan to lateral?
I agree that this is so firm and group dependent that it's impossible to really say. And I don't know that it's always *obvious* for everyone, and someone who may seem to be an obvious candidate as a 5th year but then not stay on track as they get more senior (for a variety of reasons). I don't think most associates are constantly job-hunting - it's more about just being aware what your future prospects look like at the firm (I might not think I'll be promoted to partner in 5 years, but I don't need to lateral NOW over that), and making sure you stay ahead of whatever's coming next (or not).
Some things I would consider if I was trying to evaluate whether I was "on track" for partnership:
- No one is really on "partner track" when they're junior. There are folks who are really great juniors but who won't be great mid-levels, and you really can't tell or even know if they'll stick around. I suppose you can be definitely NOT on partner track as a junior if things aren't going well, but I wouldn't say that things going well as a 1st year = can predict whether you'll be a partner some day.
- Once you're a mid-level: do you have mentors who will advocate for you? does it look like the firm is trying to make a long-term investment in you by giving you the types of opportunities you need to grow your career and create a niche? are you getting involved in firm management activities (committees)?
- Hours matter, but are the types of projects you're doing to hit your hours changing? Are you doing more sophisticated work as a integral part of the team? Or just being brought on for one-off projects?
- How integrated are you with clients?
- Practically speaking, how replaceable are you? If your firm decides to push you out as a 7th year because they don't want you to be a partner, would they miss you?
- Economically, if you become a partner, what would that mean to the firm? Are you a person they need to either step in for someone retiring or who can grow the business? Or would you just be doing the same work and preventing others who are more entrepreneurial from advancing?
- What kinds of conversations are you having with partners at your firm? Are you talking about career planning? If you asked them if you were on track, what would they say?
Some things I would consider if I was trying to evaluate whether I was "on track" for partnership:
- No one is really on "partner track" when they're junior. There are folks who are really great juniors but who won't be great mid-levels, and you really can't tell or even know if they'll stick around. I suppose you can be definitely NOT on partner track as a junior if things aren't going well, but I wouldn't say that things going well as a 1st year = can predict whether you'll be a partner some day.
- Once you're a mid-level: do you have mentors who will advocate for you? does it look like the firm is trying to make a long-term investment in you by giving you the types of opportunities you need to grow your career and create a niche? are you getting involved in firm management activities (committees)?
- Hours matter, but are the types of projects you're doing to hit your hours changing? Are you doing more sophisticated work as a integral part of the team? Or just being brought on for one-off projects?
- How integrated are you with clients?
- Practically speaking, how replaceable are you? If your firm decides to push you out as a 7th year because they don't want you to be a partner, would they miss you?
- Economically, if you become a partner, what would that mean to the firm? Are you a person they need to either step in for someone retiring or who can grow the business? Or would you just be doing the same work and preventing others who are more entrepreneurial from advancing?
- What kinds of conversations are you having with partners at your firm? Are you talking about career planning? If you asked them if you were on track, what would they say?
